Week 1 Encountering Jesus: Call him here/The Blind Beggar

Mark 10:46-52     They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

In order to engage fruitfully in the See, Judge, Act method of bible study we need both an open mind and a willing heart.  Our desire is to truly listen to the voice of the Spirit in our midst.   Take a deep breath as you invite the Spirit to whisper into your soul as you study ...

See (Read the Text closely/Examination:) In this movement we pay attention to the story, the characters, and their context.  Read the text slowly as if you were one of the many bystanders in the crowd watching this story unfold.  Why have you come to see Jesus?  How do you feel about what you are seeing?  How do you feel about this blind beggar sitting by the roadside crying out to Jesus?  Are you a disciple ... one who is in the inner circle of Jesus?  Or are you just one of the crowd hanging around the margins of Jesus' presence? Is this man in your way?  Are you one of those who is trying to keep Bartimaeus quiet?  Why would you try to keep this blind man laying by the side of the road quiet?  Is he keeping you from getting Jesus' attention?  What feelings emerge within you as you watch the scene unfold?

Read the text again as if you were Bartimaeus lying on the roadside leading out of Jericho.  What circumstances have left you lying on the side of the road?  How long have you been unable to see?  How long have you been a beggar?  Where is your family?  Where are your friends?  What are your feelings as you lie there?  You cannot see but suddenly you hear someone say "Jesus of Nazareth" is coming down the road.  How have you heard about Jesus?  What feelings emerge and burst forth in the words"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!?   What do those words mean to you ... why do you ask for mercy and not "healing?"  Are you simply asking for a handout from someone who "seems" important?  How do your feelings change when you realize Jesus is actually calling you?  How does this calling cause your circumstances to change?  Why do you throw off your cloak?  How do you know which direction to run and how do you get to Jesus?   What kind of "faith" do you have?  Where do you get this faith? What will you do now ... as a follower of "the way?"  What does it feel like to be a part of a "community?"

One last time, read the text as if you were Jesus.  How tired are you from a long day of ministry in Jericho?  Can you feel the crowds pressing in on you?  What causes you to "stand still and listen?"  What do you hear in the voice of the man called Bartimaeus as he calls out to you?  Why do you call him to you?  What feelings do you have toward him?  Why do you ask him what he wants you to do for him?  Are you surprised by his answer or did you know what he would say?  What have you seen in the man that you name as faith? 

What is the overall message the writer of this story wishes to convey?  What do you think the writer is trying to say to his community?  Can you hear that message coming through without explanation?  What does Jesus want to say to your community?  What does Jesus want to say to you about your life in the community?

Judge (Look at your Life/Spiritual Discernment:) In this movement, we are seeking to examine our own lives as we live in community ... searching the text both keeping it in its original context and bringing it into the "now" through the act of cross-cultural reading.  Keeping the context of the passage and your examination of the text in mind, meditate on these questions:  In what ways does this passage speak to our community today?  What is the good news we need to hear?   How should I view my community in light of what I see in this passage?  What is God's purpose for the community that takes this passage seriously?   Jesus made a difference in this man's life and he began to follow Jesus.  Are we making a difference in the life of our church, our community, our world?  How does this passage challenge our way of "being" the church.  How can we embody and encourage the flourishing of the kingdom of God … right where we are?

How does this passage challenge the way I live my life?  What changes do I need to make in ... my behavior, my perspective, my way of thinking or my way of praying in light of what I have learned through this text?  What invitation do I hear the Spirit whispering in my soul?

Act (Take action in Light of your Faith/Transformation:) We are called to work so that the reign of God  can be realized in the world today.  As we work with creativity and compassion, we follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Meditate on these questions with the expectation that God will show you how to take action as you sincerely seek empowerment of Spirit:  What steps does my community or do I need to take in order to respond to the invitation of God through this story?  Who needs to be involved in my decision-making?  How will changes happen?  How can I make this world a better place for people to live?  What would my life look like if the reign of God were realized in my heart? in my community?

Bible Reflection and Prayer:  The second movement of Encountering Jesus is Reflection and Prayer.  You may want to do this second movement on a different day depending on how easy it is for you to shift into a quieter place within and how much you have been moved by your study.   If you need some time to think ... think away and come back in a couple of days.

Before you leave ... pray this simple prayer:  Thank you God for the stories you have given us and the example we have in Jesus.  Mold me into a faithful follower of Christ so that I can reach out with healing hands into the world.  Amen.

When you are ready ... Take a deep breath and engage in a time of praying with Scripture called Lectio Divina, which means "sacred reading."   Although there are different ways of engaging in Lectio there are four movements.  We are using the monastic Lectio Divina method you can find on the Contemplative Outreach Website.

Lectio (Reading) Read the Scripture passage as if for the first time. Listen with the "ear of your heart." What phrase, sentence or even one word stands out to you? Concentrate on and begin to repeat that phrase, sentence or one word over and over, allowing it to settle deeply in your heart. Simply return to the repetition of the phrase, sentence or one word, savoring it in your heart.

Meditatio (Reflecting) Reflect as you relish the words. Let them resound in your heart. Let an attitude of quiet receptiveness permeate your prayer time. Be attentive to what speaks to your heart.

Oratio (Responding) Respond spontaneously as you continue to listen to a phrase, sentence or word. A prayer of praise, thanksgiving or petition may arise. Offer that prayer but keep it simple, and then return to repeating the word in
your heart.

Contemplatio (Resting) Rest in God. Simply "be with" God's presence as you open yourself to a deeper hearing of the Word of God.  If you feel drawn back to the scriptures, follow the lead of the Spirit.

As you move from your prayers and go "on your way" is there a word or a phrase that you can carry in your heart to help you stay focused on God's movement in your life ... Peace be with you

Take heart!

Mark 10:46-52 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher,let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Context: Why do you read the bible? How do you read the bible? The answers to this question are probably as varied as the people who read the bible but most people will begin with some kind of desire for God ... this is the Holy Spirit calling one into a relationship. John Wesley, the "founder" of Methodism called this desire "prevenient" grace which simply means the grace that goes before one knows God in Christ. Bartimaeus may have been just such a man. Obviously we don't know any more about Bartimaeus knowledge of God than we do when we look around at the people who surround us. But we do see his fierce desire for God. He cries out, not for healing (sozo), but for mercy (eleeson me). We may wonder why Bartimaeus doesn't just ask Jesus to heal him but if we look back and remember that just as wealth was a sign of God's blessing (you've been good), disease such as blindness was thought to be a result of sin (you've been bad) this makes sense. Rather, Jesus asks a question he has asked once before ... Look at Mark 10:36 and notice the attitude of those what are seeking something from Jesus. As this man calls Jesus, Son of David, we should be amazed this ironic turn of events, that this "blind" man, Bartimaeus, saw what the disciples have failed to notice and will continue to ignore. His response is credited to him as pistis, which is translated as faith. As he throws aside his cloak he throws aside his old life to embrace the new life before he even has it!

Going Deeper: As we go deeper once again we will experience Lectio Divina yet in a slightly different way. One of the reason I love the prayerful reading of Scripture is that it moves me from my head into my heart. Our bible study should be an exercise that is both informational (just the facts - what does it say? what does it mean?) and formational (how is God speaking to my life circumstances and how must I change in light of my experience of God?) remembering that what emerges from our heart's longings is as important as our cognitive thoughts. Both are ways that the Spirit of God comes to us.

Before we begin reading ... journal with these questions ... if you aren't into journaling and don't think you can make yourself pick up pen and paper ... meditate with them. Yet realize that writing can often bring our deeper thoughts to the surface.

Why do you think a person should read the bible?
If you read the bible, how often and what is your purpose?
Have you grown closer to God from your reading?
Where does your joy in Scripture come from?
What concerns emerge for you as you read?
If you don't read the bible, why not?

Pondering: This style of Lectio has 6 movements:

• Silencio (silence): Take time to surrender your agenda to God ... Let go and sink into the presence of the God who loves you. Sit in the silence for at least 2-3 minutes ...
  
• Lectio (sacred reading): Read the passage aloud slowly. Then read it again ... What word or short phrase caught your attention as you read? Say the word or phrase aloud, savoring it on your tongue and in your heart.
  
• Meditatio (meditation): Read the passage again slowly and try to picture the scene in your mind's eye. Where are you? Are you looking from afar or are you a part of the action? Who do you see? What do you see? What do your other senses take in and add to your meditation. What things are said and who says them? What reason do they seem to have for saying what they do? Why did Jesus respond as he did to each?
  
• Oratio (praying): Now we take the time to tell God how we felt about what we have heard and seen. First, let yourself feel what you feel ... dwell on the aspect of the passage that evoked the most emotion within you. What emotions are you feeling? Can you describe your connection to that person and their situation? How do you feel about the way Jesus responded to Bartimaeus?
• Contemplatio (contemplation): Read the passage again ... but begin to simply "rest" in the words. As you rest with this passage where do sense God drawing you?
  
• Incarnatio (incarnation): Here we begin to acknowledge how God is calling us to change within our being or to move into doing ... or both ... Do you sense God's spirit guiding you into new depths of understanding or experience of God? Do you sense an invitation from God?

Many people put their trust in God but lack the confidence to trust in what they are hearing in their spirit. Yet when we come to Jesus with the simple faith that Bartimaeus had ... we can hear God's whisper!

Praying: Simply rest in your experience of God for as long as you are able. Let the silence envelop you and make you whole ...